CT Master Chorale Kicks Off 25th Season With Annual Holiday Prelude Concert

DANBURY: The Connecticut Master Chorale, under the direction of Tina Johns Heidrich, is celebrating our 25th Anniversary Season, beginning with our annual Holiday Prelude Concert on Sunday, November 23rd at 3:00pm at the First Congregational Church, 164 Deer Hill Avenue in Danbury.

“Season of Joy” is the theme for this year’s concert. Welcoming the coming holidays, the program features a stellar selection of outstanding festive choral music. The diverse program includes selections for Winter, Advent, Hanukkah, and the New Year, with joyous carols, big band, spirituals, gospel and more.

The concert opens with “Sing Joy”, a superb collection of favorite carols emphasizing singing and joy. Some of the program highlights include Dan Forrest’s remarkable new arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High”, and an exquisite new melody for “Silent Night” in a peaceful, ethereal choral work by Eileen Hagenberg.

The gospel Christmas song “One Sweet Little Baby” relates the travels of the Holy Family to Bethlehem and Egypt, and a lovely ballad by Gordon Lightfoot expresses the desire to be with loved ones on a cold, snowy night. “The Star”, written and sung by Mariah Carey for the animated movie The Star, was nominated for Best Original Song at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

The concert finale is “They Had Joy”, the ultimate joyful Southern Gospel version of the Wise Men’s journey as they follow the star to find the baby boy in the manger.

The Chorale will be accompanied by the Connecticut Master Chorale Holiday Brass, and Joseph Jacovino on piano.

More information is available at https://www.cmchorale.org/season/26/fall25notes.htm

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and can be purchased from any singing member, by calling (203) 740-9533, or at Mikee’s Place in Southbury.

There is plenty of parking – look for the signs. The venue is handicap accessible and doors open at 2:15. Visit www.cmchorale.org for more information.